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Here we recommend designs for a database of digital photographs with focus on technical microphotography used to form a forensic particle identification data system - at low cost with easy to use tools.

Organizing and finding digital micro-photographs on a computer

Abstract: How to build a database of photographs for computer access, sorting and management. Discussion focuses on selection of cameras adapt well
to microscope eyepieces or trinocular heads, and on camera settings and procedures to obtain best quality photographs.

Photo at left: demonstrating the use of a local cloud device or network-attached storage to permit access to the photographic data base from any device and while in any location.

I also discuss image resolution and size settings and make recommendations. Cameras used as examples in this paper
include the Nikon Coolpix series 990, 995, and 4500. The techniques discussed in this paper work well with digital cameras and any type of microscope,
low power stereo zoom to high power forensic polarized light microscopes.]

Selection of a photo library management program for Digital Photography through the Microscope

Library design is critical if a large number of photographs are to be stored and ever found again. we have found
that general purpose PC-type software such as the Thumbs Plus photo management software by Cerious (www.cerious.com)
is particularly suited for this purpose for these reasons which also will describe what we consider important in
photo library software:

The program permits ready directory creation, image movement, copying, and deletion without hogging disk space by keeping
multiple copies of each image every time one is moved or changed. [The Mac iPhoto program is the world's worst
offender in this regard.]

Image file naming and image clean up or manipulation functions can be applied either to individual photo images
or can be applied to groups of pictures. This makes the assignment of meaningful names to images a snap as it can be
done en masse rather than having to type in individual photo names.

First Pass Screening Microscopic Photo Collection by Family or Type

Using a schema similar to the above, we place one or two representative photos of each spore of a general class (Ascomycetes) in the
root directory Ascomata and then place all of the additional reference photos of each Genera/Species within its own
subdirectory.

On recognizing a spore as an Ascomycete, we can quickly scan through the Ascomycete library of
representative photos, pick candidates, and look at more photos in their detailed subdirectories where there will be
photos of more spore variations and details.

Saccardo organization for Mold Spore Photographs

we have experimented with forcing my higher level reference directory photos into a Saccardo schema, particularly under
the Mitospore category, but it's been tough to maintain this order. Scrolling through the library is so fast that
it's easy enough to spot and scan, for example, hyaline allantospores that we stopped forcing those photos into a
false order and just order them by their individual names.

Using annotations, keywords, and data base search. we include keywords, annotations, comments, with each photo to
assist in identification, such as remarks from reference sources about distinguishing characteristics, habitat, etc.
I find the annotations extremely helpful, the keywords and search functions we use very little in my lab.

Typical photo annotations include:

Photo source

Unique identifying features to look for

Other similar spores or pollen grains to cross-check against

Habitat information

Reference text citation

Pathogenicity

Let me know how you succeed, or if you're having trouble obtaining successful, sharp photos with
good exposure, email me a photo or two. Sometimes by looking at a bad photo we can figure out what
camera or microscope changes might improve results.

We are working on a visual spore and pollen key, and currently have about 250,000 images on hand, but still I'm lacking
many of the common spores and pollen grains. Anyone willing to collaborate should send me a note.

Image file backups on trips

In the lab we make daily backups of my image library onto a second or even third device. One of these
is portable and is carried home each night so that we have off-site backup data. Once the volume of images
becomes substantial, use of a portable hard drive is more practical than writing CD's or DVD's.

We also carry an external hard drive on critical excursions, so that we can back up my photos
in at least two different media/physical devices. With a laptop along one can also write a CD or DVD for
non-volatile storage as well.

Photo Library Images Accessible from Anywhere

While cloud data storage services make it easy to access your digital photo library from anywhere, if like me you have hundreds of thousands of images, the cost and upload time may be a bit unwieldy.

A solution that I prefer with current technology is the use of a network-attached storage drive or NAS - also known as a "private cloud" data storage system. We illustrate the effectiveness of the private cloud device for storing a photographic database at the start of this article.

Western Digital provides both hardware and fairly simple software that allows complete access to all of my images all the time from anywhere, and from any device: office or laboratory computer, remote computers (secure password required), iPad, Android cellphone, etc.

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PhotoShop image editing software, provides sophisticated image editing, available for PC and Macintosh computer
platforms. Not recommended for reference library use - this is overkill for image editing and lacks good database
functions. Typically more than $400.

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